Quality water is essential to the health of aquarium fish. Reverse osmosis, as one of the most efficient water treatment methods, has become the best choice for many aquariums. So, can reverse osmosis water be used in aquariums? In this article, you will learn what reverse osmosis water is and what benefits reverse osmosis water has for aquariums.
What is reverse osmosis water?
Reverse osmosis water, referred to as RO water. It is water treated by advanced reverse osmosis technology. Reverse osmosis is a membrane separation technology, at its core, it utilizes a semipermeable membrane with pores small enough to block larger molecules while allowing pure water to pass through., ions, and other pollutants. In this process, water flows from the side with a higher concentration to the side with a lower concentration to obtain clean drinking water, namely reverse osmosis water. The freshwater produced is called osmotic water, and the remaining water is called concentrated water.
Related: How a reverse osmosis system works
Will RO water lower pH in an aquarium?
Yes, RO water will lower the pH of your aquarium. According to the US EPA's Water Quality Standards, the recommended pH range for water quality is 6.5 to 9.0. The pH of RO water is 6.0-7.0. However, RO water has lower mineral content because the reverse osmosis system not only removes impurities from the water but also removes minerals from the water. Some of these minerals can act as a buffer in the water, keeping the pH of the water close to neutral. If you add RO water to your aquarium, the pH of the water may drop, which will make the pH lower.
For many fish that are sensitive to pH changes, it is very important to stabilize the pH of your aquarium. If you need to add RO water to your aquarium, you will need to add some minerals or buffers to prevent the pH of the water from changing, ensuring healthy and stable aquarium water quality.
Aquarium water quality requirements
Aquariums have very strict requirements on water quality because it is directly related to the health and growth of aquatic animals. Because you must strictly handle the water quality to ensure the healthy growth of fish or aquatic animals. The following are some common aquarium water quality requirements:
The water quality needs to be clear and transparent
The transparency of the water will affect the transmittance of light, thus affecting photosynthesis and the viewing effect. Keeping the water clear is an important task for the aquarium, which can be achieved through a water filtration system and regular water changes. At the same time, you also need to clean the water tank regularly to ensure the best results.
Control of water temperature
You need to decide how much water temperature is more suitable according to different types of aquatic animals and fish. Generally speaking, the water temperature for tropical fish should be controlled at 24°C-28°C, while that for cold-water fish should be controlled at 15°C-20°C.
Control of pH value
The pH value refers to the acidity and alkalinity of water. The pH value of most freshwater fish should be controlled at 6.5-7.5. The pH value of marine fish should be controlled at 8.0-8.4. If the pH value of your water changes drastically, it may directly affect the health and survival of the fish.
Reduce ammonia and nitrites
Ammonia and nitrites are harmful substances produced by the decomposition of fish excrement and uneaten food. If your aquarium contains a lot of ammonia and nitrite, it will poison fish and aquatic animals, thus affecting the growth and health of fish. Therefore, you need to regularly test the water quality in the aquarium. Once you find any problems, you should immediately use an efficient water filtration system or change the water quality to ensure that the fish can grow healthily.
Reduce Nitrates
Nitrates are the final product of the nitrogen cycle. Although they are less toxic to aquatic organisms, high concentrations of nitrates will directly harm fish. Therefore, you need to keep the concentration of nitrates below 50 ppm.
Can fish survive in RO water?
Fish and aquatic animals cannot survive in untreated RO water. Because the RO system removes almost all minerals and dissolved solids after being treated by efficient reverse osmosis technology. Therefore, you need to add minerals to the RO water, such as calcium, magnesium, and other minerals. These minerals are very important for the health of fish.
At the same time, the pH value of RO water is low and unstable, and you need to adjust the pH of the water according to the pH buffer.
How to prepare RO water for an aquarium?
Preparing RO water for your fish tank can help you control water quality parameters to meet the needs of different fish and aquatic life. Here are the steps to prepare RO water for your fish tank:
Choose the right RO system
Choose the right RO system based on the capacity of your aquarium. It is recommended that you choose the ITEHIL best reverse osmosis water filtration system. Because it does not require installation, you can use it anytime and anywhere. The production volume can also meet your requirements. At the same time, its filtration effect is as high as 99.99%, which can remove all impurities in the water and ensure that the water quality is very pure.
Adjust water quality parameters
You need to test the purity of RO water with a TDS (total dissolved solids) meter to ensure that the TDS value of RO water is within the appropriate range, usually less than 10 ppm. The pH value of RO water is low, so you need to adjust the pH value according to relevant measures.
Mineral supplementation
The RO system removes all impurities in the water, including minerals. RO water contains almost no minerals, so you need to add appropriate minerals to the aquarium to prevent fish or aquatic animals from lacking minerals.
Regular maintenance and cleaning of filter cartridges
You need to clean the pre-filter and RO membrane regularly to ensure that the reverse osmosis system operates normally and efficiently. If you find that the filtration effect is very low, you need to replace the water filter cartridge to ensure that the reverse osmosis system achieves the best filtration effect.
Benefits of Reverse Osmosis Water for Aquariums
There are certain benefits to using reverse osmosis water in aquariums. Because reverse osmosis water does not contain any impurities, it can reduce algae growth and reduce the reproduction of pathogens. Since reverse osmosis water is very clear, using reverse osmosis water can ensure the ornamental value of the aquarium. The following are the benefits of reverse osmosis water for aquariums:
- Removal of heavy metals and pollutants: Reverse osmosis water is very pure water because the RO system removes heavy metals (such as lead, and mercury), chlorine, fluoride, nitrates, phosphates, and other harmful substances in the water.
- Removal of chemical pollutants: The RO system can remove chemical residues and organic pollutants in the water.
- Reduced algae growth: Since phosphates and nitrates are the main sources of algae growth. Reverse osmosis water does not contain these two harmful substances.
- Reduced bacterial reproduction: There are almost no dissolved solids in reverse osmosis water, which reduces the growth environment of harmful microorganisms and reduces the reproduction of pathogens and parasites in the aquarium.
- Clearwater quality: Reverse osmosis water is usually clearer than untreated tap water, which can significantly improve the viewing effect of the aquarium, making the fish more colorful and the waterscape more beautiful.
Comparison with other water treatment methods
In addition to reverse osmosis water, you may also use other water qualities, such as tap water, distilled water, ion exchange water, etc. So, are these water qualities very suitable for aquariums? How are they different from reverse osmosis water?
- Tap water: Tap water is the main water source for many aquariums. Although tap water has been treated, it may still contain chlorine and heavy metals, which can have health effects on fish.
- Distilled water: Distilled water is also a pure water source and does not contain any impurities, including minerals. It has similar advantages to reverse osmosis water, but the distillation process is energy-intensive and costly.
- Ion exchange water: It can reduce the hardness of water and soften the water by exchanging hardness ions such as calcium and magnesium in water with sodium or hydrogen ions. If the sodium content in the water is too high, it may be harmful to some freshwater fish. And ion exchange technology cannot remove heavy metals in water. Therefore, you can use it in combination with other water treatment methods.
Related: Purified vs distilled vs tap water what's the difference?
FAQ
Can we use RO waste water for an aquarium?
Yes. Mixing RO water and tap water is a flexible way to provide the right water quality.
Can bacteria grow in RO water tank?
Yes, RO water tanks may grow bacteria. Although RO water does not contain any bacteria, the water tank can breed bacteria, such as the water tank being exposed to the air for a long time and the material of the water tank, which are the main reasons for the growth of bacteria.
Is RO water better for aquarium plants?
RO water is beneficial for aquarium plants, especially when you need to precisely control the water quality. As long as the minerals and nutrients needed by plants are properly supplemented, RO water can provide an ideal growth environment for aquarium plants.
Will reverse osmosis water cause calcium deficiency in fish?
Yes, since calcium is a key element for the formation of fish bones and scales, but RO water does not contain any minerals, RO water can cause calcium deficiency in fish.
Can reverse osmosis water be used in all types of aquariums?
Yes. But if you are using reverse osmosis water, you need to add minerals to the reverse osmosis water to ensure the healthy growth of fish.
